Zero Gravity Flights Are the Next Best Thing to Space Travel — and They're Coming to a City Near You

Space travel may still be a few years off, but one company is making sure you get a taste of that zero-gravity life.

While Zero-G, a company that invites guests on a specially modified Boeing 727 to experience weightlessness, has long called Las Vegas home, you can also find flights in Houston, Long Beach, Miami, Seattle, and New York, among other U.S. cities.

"It's like being an astronaut," Zero Gravity Corp. CEO Matt Gohd told the Reno Gazette-Journal about the experience.

According to the company, the weightless flight works by performing aerobatic maneuvers known as parabolas. "Specially trained pilots perform these aerobatic maneuvers, which are not simulated in any way. Zero-G passengers experience true weightlessness," the company says on its website.

Here's how it works: G-FORCE ONE flies to an altitude of 24,000 feet, initially remaining level with the horizon. Pilots then pull up to gradually increase the angle to about 45 degrees. During this pull-up move, passengers feel the force of 1.8 Gs. The aircraft eventually reaches an altitude of 32,000 feet.

The plane then gently pushes over to create the zero-gravity segment of the parabola, which lasts for about 20 to 30 seconds. Pilots then gently pull out of the move, allowing the passengers to stabilize on the aircraft floor before starting the process over again. In total, Zero-G flights each fly 15 parabolas, creating eight total minutes of weightlessness.

The flight also includes a parabola maneuver designed to simulate lunar gravity, or about one-sixth your weight. This is achieved by flying a larger arc over the top of a parabola.

Don't worry too much about safety. The company says it flies in FAA-designated airspace that is approximately "100 miles long and 10 miles wide." Usually, three to five parabolas are flown consecutively with short periods of level flight between each set.

Regarding motion sickness, the Zero-G website says "few people experience uneasiness or nausea during the flight." If you're prone to motion sickness, the company recommends taking an over-the-counter medication like Dramamine or Meclizine before the experience.

Flight prices vary but tend to start around $9,070 per person. Check out flight itineraries here to see when this action flight will take place in your city.